Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) tend to have a cluster of several coronary risk factors, including atherogenic dyslipidaemia. Metformin has been used to improve their hyperandrogenism and to induce ovulation. However, its effects on hyperlipidaemia are less clear and it is not known if metformin also ameliorates lipid intrinsic variability.Aim: The primary end point of the study was to evaluate the effects of metformin and a hyp...

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare the effect of metformin, orlistat and pioglitazone on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Methods30 overweight PCOS women were recruited using the Rotterdam criteria (mean age (±S.E.M.) 26(±1.5)yrs and body mass index 35.9(±1.3) kg/m2). Fasting blood was collected at the same time each day on 10 c...

Objectives: Conflicting data of the benefits of GH replacement improving psychological and physical well being is available, though open GH studies generally agree on an overall improvement. For growth hormone deficient patients to continue on therapy after evaluation there should be a 7 point improvement in their QoL-AGHDA, as documented in the NICE guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of 0.4 mg of GH on QoL in severe GH deficient patients in a double...

ObjectiveIn polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is elevated and inversely related to insulin sensitivity. However, no data exists on the biological variability of CRP in PCOS.MethodsBlood samples were collected after an overnight fast at four-day intervals on 10 consecutive occasions from 12 patients with PCOS and 11 weight and age matched Caucasian women (controls). Dup...

Background Somatostatin has many putative biological effects in the kidney such as influencing renal blood flow and urine volume, tubular transport and cell regulation. It exerts these effects via five identified G-protein linked receptors. However, only somatostatin receptor proteins 1 and 2A have been described in human kidney so far. In this study, we examined the distribution of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in normal human adult kidney. Methods Formalin fixed paraffin em...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effect of treatment with orlistat versus metformin on the hormonal and biochemical features of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)METHODS: 21 Caucasian women with PCOS (mean plus/minus SEM, age 27 plus/minus 0.9 years, and body mass index 36.7 plus/minus 3.3) participated in this prospective, randomised, open labelled, study. All subjects had an eight week run in period of dietary modification and then ...

Background Phytoestrogens are a group of biologically active plant substances with chemical structures similar to that of endogenous estrogen. Their beneficial effects on cardiovascular protection have been indicated by the relatively lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases in people with higher phytoestrogen consumption. Recent studies show that they have anti-oxidative properties, which have not been studied in human endothelial cells under different glucose conditions.</...

IntroductionSomatostatin has antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic actions through 5 G-protein receptors (Sstr). In view of the anti-angiogenic effects of Sstrs their relationship to the distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was undertaken in non-malignant Reinke's Oedema of the larynx and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.MethodsSix Reinke's oedema (non malignant) and 1...

IntroductionThe prognosis in head and neck cancer has remained unchanged over the last 20 years (overall 5 year survival 50-60 percent), and is adversely affected by tumour angiogenesis. The effects of the anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic peptide somatostatin (SST) are mediated through a family 5 receptors (SSTRs 1-5), whilst the angiogenic cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts predominantly via 2 receptors: FLK and FLT. The objective of this study ...

Objectives: We have recently demonstrated a wide variation in insulin resistance (IR) occurs in polycystic ovarian syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Changes in insulin metabolism and increased insulin resistance (IR) after the menopause have previously been reported. It is unknown if the biological variation of IR is affected by the menopause and is evaluated here.Methods: The biological variation of IR was assessed by measuring IR at four day intervals on 10 consecutive occas...